Hardy teams with Machado for out; later exits

BALTIMORE -- Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy exited Sunday's 7-1 loss to the White Sox after five innings after fouling a ball off his left foot.

Hardy, who had an X-ray taken immediately, will get a CT scan on Monday and the Orioles -- who are initially calling it a left foot contusion -- will have a better idea of the situation following that scan.

BALTIMORE -- Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy exited Sunday's 7-1 loss to the White Sox after five innings after fouling a ball off his left foot.

Hardy, who had an X-ray taken immediately, will get a CT scan on Monday and the Orioles -- who are initially calling it a left foot contusion -- will have a better idea of the situation following that scan.

"There are some things we want to look at further, make sure we get our arms around what exactly it is," manager Buck Showalter said of Hardy.

"I do know, I've got an idea. Right now, it's a contusion. He fouled a ball off his foot and it got real stiff and sore quickly. And so he's going to get some more detail."

Prior to the injury, Hardy was part of a fantastic play in the fourth inning. Todd Frazier hit a sharp ball to Manny Machado at third, and Machado dove and had the ball hit off his glove. But Hardy was right behind Machado and fielded the carom, then fired to first to record the impressive out.

"How about the play J.J. and, I don't know if you can count Manny," Showalter said. "That's unbelievable. Just to be here to watch that play. I don't know if there will be a better play made the whole year."

Losing Hardy for any length of time would be incredibly tough for an Orioles roster that sent utility infielder Ryan Flaherty to Triple-A last week. Should Hardy avoid the disabled list but need a few days, the O's would struggle to find a suitable defensive lineup and also be covered on the bench.

On Sunday, Pedro Alvarez entered at third base and Machado moved from third to shortstop. Flaherty has to stay in the Minors for 10 days unless it's a DL situation.